CCTV system installation: things to know from A-Z

NGÀY ĐĂNG 23/09/2025

Võ Hồng Tiên

In the increasingly complex security context, CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) systems have become an essential solution for both businesses and families. Installing CCTV not only helps monitor safety and prevent theft risks, but also brings peace of mind and effective management to living and working spaces.

Things to know before installation

Usage needs

Before installing a camera, it is important to clearly identify the purpose of use, because each need will determine the type of equipment, quantity and different layouts. Below are some common needs including:

• Family/apartment: Monitor children, the elderly, property, detect theft.
• Office/store: Manage employees, monitor transactions, limit fraud.
• Factory/warehouse: Monitor production lines, protect goods, control labor safety.
• Building/parking lot: Access management, fire prevention, ensuring public area security.
• Public/traffic area: Security and order monitoring, traffic management, incident detection.

Effective CCTV installation location

Choosing the right installation location determines the quality of monitoring and security effectiveness. Below are some installation locations and principles to note:

• Entry area: Main door, back door, gate, elevator - helps identify and control people entering and exiting.
• Living/common space: Living room, hallway, garden - ensures daily monitoring of activities.
• Important asset area: Warehouse, safe, parking lot - limits theft and fraud.
• Risky points: Near machinery, flammable and explosive areas, places difficult to observe with the naked eye.
• Reasonable viewing angle: The camera should be placed high (2.5-3m), diagonally to cover a wide area, avoid backlighting and limit blind spots

Image quality

One of the most important factors when choosing a CCTV camera is image quality. Choosing the right image quality helps to identify faces, license plates, important details, effectively supporting security work.

• Resolution: Minimum should be from 2MP (Full HD) or higher. For large areas, 4MP - 8MP (4K) is needed to observe details clearly.
• Night vision capability: The camera should have infrared (IR) or Starlight/ColorVu to record clearly in low light conditions.
• Viewing angle & lens: The wider the angle, the more coverage, but details may be reduced. For large spaces, you should choose an optical zoom or PTZ camera.
• Anti-interference & backlight (WDR): Helps images become clearer in environments with many light differences.
• Image compression standard (H.265/H.265+): Maintains high quality while saving storage space.

Storage & security

An effective CCTV system not only needs clear images but also stable storage and tight security to ensure absolute safety.

Data storage:

• Hard drive in recorder (HDD/NAS): Popular, suitable for long-term monitoring. Capacity depends on the number of cameras and storage time.
• Memory card in camera: Suitable for small needs, local monitoring.
• Cloud storage: Allows review anywhere, avoiding data loss when the system is broken.
• Storage time: Usually 7-30 days, depending on hard drive capacity and video compression standard.

Security:

• Set strong passwords & change periodically for recorders, remote viewing accounts.
• Limit access: Only grant permission to authorized administrators.
• Encrypting transmitted data: Prevent the risk of hacking and image leakage.
• Regularly update firmware & software: Patch security errors, ensure the system is always safe.
• Use reputable brands: Avoid data security risks.

CCTV system installation process

For the CCTV system to operate stably, the installation process must follow these steps:

Survey the current status

• Determine the area to be monitored.
• Measure the distance, lighting conditions, wiring routes.
• Design & select equipment
• Choose the type of camera (IP, dome, bullet, PTZ ...) suitable for each location.
• Calculate the quantity, recorder, hard drive and necessary accessories.

Construction & installation

• Neat wiring to avoid causing aesthetic loss.
• Place the camera at the optimal height and viewing angle.
• Connect to the recorder, power source, internet network.

System configuration

• Set up camera and recorder parameters.
• Connect to the remote viewing application on your phone/computer.
• Check the storage capacity and image quality.

Check & accept

• Ensure all cameras are operating stably.
• Check the shooting angle, sharpness, and night vision.
• Hand over the user manual to the user.

Common errors and solutions

Blurry, noisy, poor quality images

• Cause: Low resolution camera, wrong angle installation, unsuitable lighting.
• Solution: Choose a Full HD camera or higher, use the anti-glare feature (WDR), readjust the installation position.

Blind spots appear

• Cause: Improper camera arrangement, narrow shooting angle.
• Solution: Survey carefully before installation, add a camera, or use a wide-angle/PTZ lens.

Unable to connect remotely

• Cause: Network configuration error, weak internet connection.
• Solution: Check modem/router, open port properly, prioritize IP cameras that support P2P.

Storage capacity fills up quickly

• Cause: Not calculating capacity, poor compression standard.
• Solution: Upgrade hard drive, use H.265+ compression standard, set up motion recording detection).

Security risks, camera hacking

• Cause: Using default password, unsecured device.
• Remedy: Set strong password, update firmware regularly, choose a reputable brand.

Cost of installing a surveillance camera system

The cost of installing a CCTV system is not fixed, but depends on many different factors. Some main factors include:

Scale and scope of installation

• Number of cameras to be deployed.
• Wide or narrow installation area, indoors or outdoors.

Equipment quality and type

• Regular cameras, IP cameras, AI cameras or PTZ cameras will have different costs.
• Resolution, anti-glare ability, night infrared also affect the price.
• DVR, hard drive and accompanying accessories (switch, wire, power source ...).

Data storage requirements

• Storage time required (7 days, 15 days or 30 days).
• Local storage or cloud storage solution.

Construction labor costs

• The complexity of wiring and installation (houses, offices, factories, multi-storey buildings, etc.).
• Implementation time and effort.

Maintenance and upgrade costs

• Regular maintenance for stable system operation.
• Additional costs when expanding or upgrading the system.

Contact for advice

Choosing the right CCTV solution helps optimize costs, ensure security and long-term effective operation. However, each project and each need will have different characteristics, requiring survey and design of a separate solution.

KPS - Official distributor of brands such as Bosch, i-PRO, CNB. We provide leading security solutions in Vietnam, with 15 years of experience implementing hundreds of large and small projects nationwide from buildings, industrial parks, warehouses, to offices, commercial centers, ...

• Consulting on complete solutions from survey, design, installation to maintenance.
• A team of highly specialized technicians ensures stable system operation.
• Genuine equipment from reputable brands, secure data security.

Contact KPS today for free consultation and receive the most suitable CCTV solution for your needs.